greasewood

English

Sarcobatus baileyi, a greasewood

Etymology

From grease +‎ wood.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɹiːswʊd/

Noun

greasewood (countable and uncountable, plural greasewoods)

1. Spiny shrubs containing oil, of the genus Sarcobatus, native to the United States, especially Sarcobatus vermiculatus.
   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 445:

     He worked his way north among the tall cactuses and greasewood, staying just out of sight of the railroad.

2. Any of several other North American desert shrubs with glossy or resinous leaves in several species. including:
   1. Adenostoma fasciculatum (chamise).
   2. Baccharis sarothroides (desert broom)
   3. Glossopetalon spinescens (spiny greasewood, Nevada greasewood).
   4. Gutierrezia spp. (broomweed, snakeweeds, matchweeds).
   5. Larrea tridentata (creosote bush).

Translations

shrub of the genus Sarcobatus

• Cheyenne: vé'ôhkévánó'êstse
• Navajo: díwózhii

chamise — see chamise

broomweed — see broomweed

creosote bush — see creosote bush

See also

• fatwood